Fighting Strains Ukraine Truce; Russia Criticizes EU Blacklist
Both sides in the conflict accused each other of violating the cease-fire brokered in Minsk by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France.
Photographer: Anatolii Stepanov/AFP/Getty ImagesA fragile cease-fire in Ukraine between government troops and pro-Russian rebels came under strain as Russia criticized the European Union for expanding its sanctions list over the conflict.
Five government troops were killed and 25 wounded in battles near the strategic port city of Mariupol, the first deaths reported since the truce began on Feb. 15, and fighting continues in the area at Shyrokyne, Ukrainian military spokesman Dmytro Chalyi said by phone on Monday. Conditions “don’t yet exist” for separatist forces to withdraw their heavy weaponry from the conflict zone, rebel spokesman Eduard Basurin said, according to the Interfax news service.